Introduction

Romulus, graphically rendered as ROMVLVS, is an Italian historical drama television series created by Matteo Rovere about the founding of Rome.

The show is notable for using archaic Latin instead of Italian.

Outline

The story of Romulus and his twin brother Remus, in eighth century B.C. as seen through the eyes of three people marked by death, loneliness and violence.

Cast

• Main:
  • Andrea Arcangeli as Yemos (seasons 1-2) Prince of Alba Longa and Enitos’ twin brother.
  • Francesco Di Napoli as Wiros (seasons 1-2) Slave from Velia participating to the Lupercalia.
  • Marianna Fontana as Ilia (seasons 1-2) Amulius’ daughter and Vestal priestess.
  • Sergio Romano as Amulius / Servios (seasons 1-2) King Numitor’s younger brother, later known as Servios.
  • Ivana Lotito as Gala (season 1) Amulius’ wife and Ilia’s mother.
  • Vanessa Scalera as Silvia (seasons 1-2) King Numitor’s daughter and Yemos and Enitos’ mother.
  • Valentina Bellè as Hersilia (season 2) Leader of the Sabine priestesses.
  • Emanuele Di Stefano as Titus Tatius (season 2) Sancus’ son and King of the Sabines.
  • Max Malatesta as Sabos (season 2) Titus’ advisor and commander of his army.
  • Massimo Foschi as Aranth (season 2) Old Etruscan in the Land of Tuscia who heals Yemos.

• Recurring Guest Stars:
  • Giovanni Buselli as Enitos (season 1) Silvia’s son and Yemos’ twin brother.
  • Massimiliano Rossi as Spurius (season 1) King of Velia and Amulius’ ally.
  • Corrado Invernizzi as Eulinos (season 1) The Greek merchant hosting Numitor and Silvia.
  • Yorgo Voyagis as Numitor (seasons 1-2) King of Alba Longa, Silvia’s father and Yemos and Enitos’ grandfather.
  • Gabriel Montesi as Cnaeus (season 1) Slave from Velia and king of the Luperci.
  • Emilio De Marchi as Ertas (season 1) King of Gabii and Lausus’ father.
  • Marlon Joubert as Lausus (seasons 1-2) Ertas’ son.
  • Silvia Calderoni as she-Wolf (seasons 1-2) Leader of the Ruminales.
  • Demetra Avincola as Deftri (stagioni 1-2) Young warrior of the Ruminales, attracted to Wiros.
  • Francesco Santagada as Maccus (seasons 1-2) Last survivor of the Luperci besides Yemos and Wiros. Later advisor and lieutenant of the kings together with Herenneis.
  • Piergiuseppe di Tanno as Herenneis (seasons 1-2) Warrior of the Ruminales, later advisor and lieutenant of the kings together with Maccus.
  • Anna Chiara Colombo as Tarinkri (seasons 1-2) Warrior of the Ruminales.
  • Valerio Malorni as Adieis (seasons 1-2) Warrior and healer of the Ruminales.
  • Pietro Micci as Attus (seasons 1-2) Priest of Mars and warrior who trains Ilia to fighting.
  • Ludovica Nasti as Vibia (season 2) The youngest among the Sabine priestesses.
  • Giancarlo Commare as Atys (season 2) King of Satricum.

Production

The first season of the series was greenlighted in 2019 and it was shot in 28 weeks in Rome. It was originally shot in Old Latin.

Release

The series won the 2021 Nastro d’Argento for best Italian TV series.

Other Media

Starting from 29 October 2020, a trilogy of novels that expands the narrative universe, an unpublished cross-media project for Italy, has been published by HarperCollins. Written by Luca Azzolini, the volumes are titled Romulus: Book I – The Blood of the Wolf (29 October 2020), Romulus: Book II – The Queen of Battles (November 2020) and Romulus: Book III – The City of Wolves (January 2021).

Trivia

• Produced by Sky Italia, Cattleya, and Groenlandia, two episodes of the series premiered at the 2020 Rome Film Festival.
• The series was first broadcast in Italy on Sky Atlantic on 06 November 2020.
• In April 2021 it was renewed for a second season.
• The series was sold in over 40 countries.

Romulus Series

• Series 01 (2020):
  • Episode 01: Tu.
  • Episode 02: Regere.
  • Episode 03: Imperio.
  • Episode 04: Populos.
  • Episode 05: Romane.
  • Episode 06: Memento.
  • Episode 07: Parcere.
  • Episode 08: Subiectis.
  • Episode 09: Debellare.
  • Episode 10: Superbos.

• Series 02 (2022):
  • Episode 01: Offesa.
  • Episode 02: Decisione.
  • Episode 03: Mostro.
  • Episode 04: Destino.
  • Episode 05: Furia.
  • Episode 06: Battaglia.
  • Episode 07: Gemelli.
  • Episode 08: Apparenze.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • Michele Alhaique … (7 episodes, 2020-2022)
  • Enrico Maria Artale … (7 episodes, 2020-2022)
  • Matteo Rovere … (3 episodes, 2020-2022)
  • Francesca Mazzoleni … (1 episode, 2022)
• Producer(s):
  • Marco Chimenz … executive producer / producer (18 episodes, 2020-2022)
  • Paolo Lucarini … line producer / executive producer (18 episodes, 2020-2022)
  • Matteo Rovere … producer / executive producer (14 episodes, 2020-2022)
  • Laura Cotta Ramosino … co-executive producer (13 episodes, 2020-2022)
  • Arianna De Chiara … co-executive producer (13 episodes, 2020-2022)
  • Camilla Fava del Piano … delegate producer / co-executive producer (13 episodes, 2020-2022)
  • Francesca Longardi … executive producer / producer (13 episodes, 2020-2022)
  • Giovanni Stabilini … executive producer / producer (13 episodes, 2020-2022)
  • Riccardo Tozzi … executive producer / producer (13 episodes, 2020-2022)
  • Claudio Falconi … delegate producer (10 episodes, 2020)
  • Enrico Cerabino … line producer (8 episodes, 2022)
  • Nils Hartmann … executive producer: Sky (3 episodes, 2022)
  • Erica Negri … executive producer: Sky (3 episodes, 2022)
  • Alessia Polli … co-executive producer (3 episodes, 2022)
  • Sonia Rovai … executive producer: Sky (3 episodes, 2022)
  • Fabiana Tesauro … delegate producer: Sky (3 episodes, 2022)
• Writer(s):
  • Matteo Rovere … (created by) (17 episodes, 2020-2022)
  • Matteo Rovere … (concept by) (3 episodes, 2022)
  • Filippo Gravino … (13 episodes, 2020-2022)
  • Filippo Gravino … (concept by) (3 episodes, 2022)
  • Filippo Gravino … (story) (3 episodes, 2022)
  • Filippo Gravino … (screenplay) (1 episode, 2022)
  • Guido Iuculano … (13 episodes, 2020-2022)
  • Guido Iuculano … (concept by) (3 episodes, 2022)
  • Guido Iuculano … (story) (3 episodes, 2022)
  • Guido Iuculano … (screenplay) (1 episode, 2022)
  • Federico Gnesini … (screenplay) (2 episodes, 2022)
  • Flaminia Gressi … (screenplay) (2 episodes, 2022)
• Music:
  • Mokadelic … (10 episodes, 2020)
  • Andrea Farri … (8 episodes, 2022)
• Cinematography:
  • Vladan Radovic … (10 episodes, 2020-2022)
  • Giuseppe Maio … (7 episodes, 2020-2022)
  • Francesco Scazzosi … (1 episode, 2022)
• Editor(s):
  • Marcello Saurino … (8 episodes, 2020-2022)
  • Valeria Sapienza … (6 episodes, 2020-2022)
  • Gianni Vezzosi … (2 episodes, 2020)
  • Francesco Loffredo … (1 episode, 2022)
• Production:
  • Sky Italia (Sky)
  • Cattleya
  • Groenlandia
  • ITV Studios (in collaboration with)
  • Regione Lazio (support)
• Distributor(s):
  • Pandastorm Pictures (Germany, 2021)(Blu-ray)
  • Pandastorm Pictures (Germany, 2021)(DVD)
  • Sky Atlantic (Italy, 2020)(TV)
• Release Date:
  • Series 01: 06 November 2020 to 04 December 2020.
  • Series 02: 21 October 2022 to 11 November 2022.
• Running time: 44-63 minutes.
• Rating: Unknown.
• Country: Italy.
• Language: Italian and Old Latin.

Video Clip(s)